Mali: opposition leader Soumaïla Cissé still in the hands of his captors

The leader of the Malian opposition, Soumaïla Cissé during a march in September 2018 in Bamako. MICHELE CATTANI / AFP

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Two weeks after his abduction, still no news from Soumaïla Cissé. The opposition leader was kidnapped on Wednesday March 25 during his electoral tour, in preparation for the legislative elections on March 29, in his native region of Niafunké, near Timbuktu, in the north of the country. Eleven members of his delegation, also kidnapped, were released.

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Two weeks after his abduction , only Soumaïla Cissé remains in the hands of his captors. " There is no proof of official life but we are sure that he is in good health, " assures an executive from URD, the political party of the leader of the opposition. " Negotiations are underway, " he continues. Negotiations that remain discreet , for an abduction that no longer makes the headlines. " The URD is in contact with religious, customary or preacher leaders in the region, " concludes this executive.

For its part, the government set up a crisis unit a week after the abduction of the opposition leader and after the first round of the legislative elections , which had finally been maintained.

According to the Minister of Foreign Affairs Tiébilé Dramé, " several indications let believe that Soumaïla Cissé was kidnapped by individuals close to the katiba Macina ". The authors have not claimed responsibility for the kidnapping. Katiba Macina, headed by Amadou Koufa, affiliated with al-Qaeda, is also cited by other security sources.

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